2012 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Teuvo Teravainen

The Pittsburgh Penguins and CONSOL Energy Center will be hosting the 2012 NHL Draft on June 22nd and 23rd. In the days leading up to the event, pittsburghpenguins.com will be putting the spotlight on some of the best and brightest draft-eligible prospects.

Although slender in size, Teuvo Teravainen has been one of the biggest risers on many draft boards, finding himself placed within the top-5 among prospects entering the 2012 NHL Draft. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound left winger from Finland has many scouts clamoring over his ability to score the puck after scoring 11 goals in Finland’s Elite Hockey League, normally competing against players much older than himself on a nightly basis. At the 2012 U-18 Five Nations Cup, Teravainen put on an offensive show for all of hockey to see, leading the tournament with six goals and two assists in only three games, including a hat trick against the Czech Republic. No scout questions Teravainen’s offensive drive and arsenal and while his lack size is discerning, one scout told The Hockey News that the Finnish wingers “upside outweighs that.”

“Teravainen possesses hand skills that are unrivalled by any other prospect in this draft, registering the highest marks for his playmaking and puckhandling skills in this year’s draft class… He has uncanny feel for the puck and is constantly aware of his linemates’ location at all times. He can make a series of moves in close and at a stand still that can freeze a defenseman while he delivers a perfect pass for a goal. ”
-McKeen’s Hockey